If reviving the Hyeolgyo wasn’t the goal, then what on earth had it been for?
Sobaekta wondered about that.
“Why did that man instill in me the ambition to unify the frontier?”
It wasn’t just Sobaekta—the Pungcheon Sect Leader and Mabul as well wore expressions of incomprehension. Naturally, their gazes gathered on Geom Mugeuk.
“Why are you looking at me?”
“Aren’t you our Young Cult Leader who sees through all the secrets of the universe?”
It had been nothing more than a quip from the Pungcheon Sect Leader, a ‘surely you don’t know this too,’ but Geom Mugeuk saw right through it.
“I do have a guess.”
He called it a guess, but in truth, he was certain.
“It is because of Sinung Cheolbang.”
While everyone made puzzled expressions, Sobaekta spoke to Geom Mugeuk.
“That is a place where our cult secretly had weapons prepared.”
“I know. I have already been there with your master. We even uncovered the large underground workshop.”
Sobaekta’s face reddened. Sinung Cheolbang was also a decisive part of a shameful past.
“He seems to have wanted to grow Sinung Cheolbang into the greatest forge in the frontier through war.”
It was a conjecture based on the fact that in his previous life, Sinung Cheolbang had actually become the greatest forge in the Central Plains.
“The war probably lasted quite a long time. Sinung Cheolbang would have secretly sold weapons to the forces opposing us as well.”
Because nothing brought greater wealth to a forge than a prolonged war.
“Investigate it later. If there is evidence that Sinung Cheolbang made contact with other forces in the frontier, then my guess is correct.”
Sobaekta had a feeling those words were true. Because while stoking his ambitions, Hwanwang had constantly emphasized thorough preparations for war through Sinung Cheolbang and said they had to be prepared for a long war. In the end, he had been thoroughly used by that bastard.
“Since the subject of Sinung Cheolbang has come up, there is one more thing that remains to be checked.”
The Pungcheon Sect Leader guessed what Geom Mugeuk wanted to check and sent a telepathic message.
—I’ll do it myself.
The Pungcheon Sect Leader gazed into Sobaekta’s eyes and asked calmly.
“What happened to Elder Seong?”
At first, the Pungcheon Sect Leader had been half-convinced; now, he believed Sobaekta hadn’t killed him. During this hostage ordeal, he had been able to recall why he had chosen Sobaekta.
And so he was certain. Although Sobaekta had been bewitched by Hwanwang and dreamed vain dreams, at least he wasn’t someone who would commit such an act.
“What do you mean? Has something happened to Elder Seong?”
“He is currently missing.”
Just from Sobaekta’s reaction, they could tell he hadn’t killed Elder Seong.
“It couldn’t be! Was it his doing?”
Geom Mugeuk was more relieved than the Pungcheon Sect Leader. If Sobaekta had killed him, the Pungcheon Sect Leader would not have been able to forgive his disciple.
And no matter what punishment he inflicted on his disciple, the Pungcheon Sect Leader would have suffered an irreparable wound to his heart.
Sobaekta berated himself with a gloomy face.
“Ah! If something has happened to Elder Seong, it is because of me. If I hadn’t gotten entangled with that man in the first place, Elder Seong would not have left the cult. I didn’t even know Elder Seong had gone missing.”
The Pungcheon Sect Leader comforted his disciple.
“His fate has yet to be determined, so do not blame yourself too much.”
The four of them left Hwanwang’s quarters in that manner.
Just as they were heading toward the Cult Leader’s hall, a martial artist came and delivered a letter before departing. It was a letter from Gowol. The one who capped off this entire affair was Gowol.
“Strategist Gowol has found out where Elder Seong is.”
At those words, not only the Pungcheon Sect Leader but even Sobaekta jumped in surprise.
“Is he alive?”
“Yes, he is alive.”
“Where is he?”
From Geom Mugeuk’s mouth, that same place was mentioned once more.
“Sinung Cheolbang.”
* * *
The Pungcheon Sect Leader and Sobaekta swept through Sinung Cheolbang together with the experts of the Pungcheon Sect and safely rescued Elder Seong, who had been imprisoned underground.
During that process, all the experts connected to Hwanwang lost their lives.
Those who had worked without knowing anything were not killed but were scattered. Just as Hwanwang had vanished, Sinung Cheolbang also disappeared from Murim.
While the Pungcheon Sect Leader and Sobaekta were reuniting with Elder Seong, I was wandering nameless mountains of the frontier with Mabul, searching for poisonous herbs. Because from now on, the matters of the Pungcheon Sect were theirs to resolve.
The medicinal herbs growing in the frontier were different from those of the Central Plains.
Even when it wasn’t what he was looking for, Mabul carefully examined any new herb he saw. Just as Dokwang had organized them, he too drew herbs on paper and wrote down their characteristics.
He thought that perhaps he did this work because he truly enjoyed it, but on the other hand, he felt that perhaps he had immersed himself in herb gathering to protect himself, because he didn’t think he could endure unless he focused on something like this. I couldn’t know what was truly in his heart.
“Could this be the herb?”
At my shout, Mabul came to check.
“It’s identical. We finally found it! Dokwang, just you wait! I’m returning with the herb I found! The herb found by me, not Mabul!”
Mabul had memorized all the herbs in the drawings, so I was the one holding the paper to compare. Mabul compared the poisonous herb on the paper in my hand with the one I had found.
“It looks similar, but this isn’t it.”
“Jealousy and obstruction won’t work. Step away from the herb!”
“It should have five mouths, but this one has six, doesn’t it? Look here. Didn’t I write it down especially? Ones with six leaves are commonly found.”
“Even this commonly found one was hard to find! Isn’t it too difficult? We’ve already been at it for an hour and haven’t found a single one.”
“If it looked like it could be found easily, I wouldn’t have asked for help.”
“Oh, my back.”
Mabul bent his waist again to scan the grass and spoke.
“Stop exaggerating. That’s the same waist that was perfectly fine even after being beaten by the Cheolhyeol Patcheonsul.”
“Is the waist that works the same as the waist that fights? I can’t find any more! I can’t do it!”
Geom Mugeuk flopped down on a rock.
“And you’re doing so well while an adult is working.”
“The sky looks nice from here. Lie down for a moment.”
The drifting clouds were peaceful. This brief rest felt so precious. Of course, I couldn’t rest alone while Mabul was working.
I sprang up and spread the papers with the poisonous herbs drawn on them around me.
“I’ve never seen ones that look like this in my life. Dokwang is trying to pull a fast one on us! I’ll bet my wrist that this herb doesn’t exist.”
At that moment, as if by magic, Mabul held up a herb high.
“Found one!”
Comparing the herb Mabul brought with the one drawn on the paper, they were identical.
“So it really did exist.”
“Which wrist was it?”
“I’ll have to bet with you after I’ve achieved the Geumgang Bulgoe.”
Mabul placed the herb on the rock and rushed off to dig again.
“You just dug one up, so rest a bit before digging again!”
Without even pretending to hear me, Mabul busily surveyed the surroundings.
Sitting on the rock, I silently watched him gathering herbs. Come to think of it, Mabul was someone who was always busily moving about on those short legs of his. Whether when trying to make his older brother the successor, or now while gathering herbs, he was a person who was diligent by nature.
“Found another one!”
Mabul dug up yet another herb. It too was one of the herbs on the paper.
“You rigged it, didn’t you? You hid the herbs here in advance, didn’t you? You rigged it to target my wrist!”
It was astounding how he could find poisonous herbs so well.
“Isn’t that precisely why Dokwang asked me?”
This time, when he tried to go dig again, I forcibly held him back to make him rest.
Mabul pretended he couldn’t win, shook off his dirt-covered hands, and sat on the rock to rest for a moment.
“Your coming with me this time has truly been a great help.”
“I merely played the role of a folding screen.”
“A folding screen that protected our lives.”
After a brief pause, Mabul asked.
“Say, Young Cult Leader.”
“Yes.”
“Who are the ones behind this matter?”
When speaking with Sobaekta earlier, Mabul had heard that the Soul-Devouring Demon Venerable had been attacked at their cult, and the Alliance Lord’s grandson had fallen victim at the Murim Alliance.
“A certain organization is secretly entrenched and trying to take root in the important organizations of Murim. We do not yet know which organization it is.”
“Does the Cult Lord know as well?”
Gowol had been sharing all information with the Tongcheon Pavilion. Naturally, he knew that a certain organization was operating in secret.
“Since the Chief Strategist knows, Father likely knows as well.”
At that, Mabul nodded with a relieved expression. This must be the faith the Demonic Venerables had in his father.
“They are ones who have brought in someone who has legitimately inherited the Hyeolgyo’s illusion arts. Be careful going forward.”
“Are you worried about me?”
“If you protect our cult well, won’t I be able to live this kind of life?”
As Mabul set out to search for herbs again after the brief rest, I shouted to him.
“Please count just one of these as found by me! That way I can brag too! Please!”
Pretending not to hear, Mabul bent his waist and went deeper in.
* * *
When we returned after gathering the herbs, Sobaekta was waiting for Geom Mugeuk at the Cult Leader’s hall.
“I have something to tell the Young Cult Leader, which is why I waited.”
With Elder Seong having returned safely as well, he wore a bright expression. Compared to when I had first met him, the difference was so stark he could have been a different person. This must have been his true self all along.
Sobaekta slowly looked around the Cult Leader’s hall.
“I could feel your master’s confusion when he first saw this place. He must have been surprised because I had it completely renovated. In truth, I aimed for that too. There was a time when I hated him greatly. Even so, I have no intention of changing this Cult Leader’s hall. Honestly, the previous one was quite outdated.”
He had properly taken his master’s plea to live for himself.
“I intend to live diligently here now.”
“I believe the Cult Leader will do well.”
“I am truly grateful for your help this time. If given the opportunity next time, I shall surely repay this kindness.”
“It was done for your master. There is no need to be grateful to me.”
“That is why I am even more grateful.”
Because it wasn’t only Geom Mugeuk who had grown closer to the Pungcheon Sect Leader through this matter.
“In that spirit, I wish to give the Young Cult Leader a gift.”
When Sobaekta manipulated the chair, the surrounding walls rose and divine artifacts were revealed.
“Choose one among our cult’s divine artifacts.”
“Are you serious?”
“I am.”
What was a divine artifact compared to that? He had saved his life and even restored his relationship with his master.
Even so, Geom Mugeuk found Sobaekta’s offer of a divine artifact unexpected.
“May I truly choose?”
“Of course. However, the Eumnoe Bell is not permitted.”
“I know that much. But does your master know?”
“Why? Must you receive permission from your master?”
“Not exactly. But do not regret this. I am not someone who refuses gifts.”
“Before I change my mind, hurry and choose what you want.”
Geom Mugeuk looked around at the divine artifacts. First, he went to the Eumnoe Bell and greeted the specters.
‘I will be leaving soon, so I suppose I won’t see you anymore.’
The specters of the Eumnoe Bell now felt like friends, just as the vengeful spirits of the Guhwamagong did.
‘Next time, I shall return with Gowol.’
Geom Mugeuk looked over the divine artifacts one by one. In truth, he had seen them all when he had received the Hyeolsindan and the Geukpum Cheonjamsa from the Pungcheon Sect Leader in the past.
If he were to choose another divine artifact, the first to catch his eye was the Hyeollyong Sinpo, a protective garment that, like the Pipung-ui, provided immunity to blades and swords when worn. If not that, there was also the Hwasodan, which could greatly increase internal energy, though its effect was less than the Hyeolsindan.
Geom Mugeuk slowly walked around and looked over the divine artifacts once more.
As he circled the hall along the wall, a faint vibration came from within his chest.
Hum!
Surprisingly, the secret coffer he kept in his bosom had vibrated slightly. This was the first time it had shown such a reaction since he obtained the secret coffer.
Geom Mugeuk could tell. That the secret coffer had reacted to the divine artifact before him now.
To confirm precisely, he stepped a short distance away and then returned. This time too, it vibrated faintly in front of that divine artifact.
The divine artifact that the secret coffer reacted to was a black iron bead slightly smaller than a fist.
“What kind of divine artifact is this?”
“It is called Heukjeong because it looks like a black eyeball.”
“What is it used for?”
“I do not know. It has been passed down in our cult since long ago.”
He had seen it before too, but it was something he had simply passed by.
Only because the secret coffer was close by could he know that these two items were related.
If this Heukjeong was the key to unlocking the secret of the secret coffer?
Then it made sense why the secret hadn’t been unlocked until now. Because among the past cult leaders of the Cheonma Singyo, none had come near the Heukjeong while possessing the secret coffer.
His heart pounded involuntarily with anticipation that he might be able to unravel the secret of the secret coffer.
“I will choose this.”
“Are you sure that will be alright? Past cult leaders conducted much research but concluded it was merely an iron bead.”
“And yet it remained in the seat of a divine artifact, did it not? That is what makes it seem all the more extraordinary.”
“I hadn’t expected you to interpret it that way.”
“I will go with this.”
Geom Mugeuk held the Heukjeong in his hand. Then, as if confirming this was correct, the iron coffer in his bosom vibrated once more.
“Thank you for this precious gift.”
Geom Mugeuk accepted this as fate. Obtaining the iron coffer, coming to the frontier, and receiving a divine artifact as a gift from him. If he had not saved him, he would not have obtained the Heukjeong.
Just then, the Pungcheon Sect Leader entered.
“What is that?”
Geom Mugeuk quickly pocketed the Heukjeong.
“Don’t tell me? You didn’t wring a divine artifact from my disciple too, did you?”
“I didn’t wring it; the Cult Leader gave it to me as a gift.”
“On whose authority!”
“Not the retired Cult Leader—the current Cult Leader here!”
Geom Mugeuk spoke hastily as he fled.
“From now on, when you curse me, this matter will be included!”
Sure enough, the Pungcheon Sect Leader shouted immediately.
“Stop, you shameless Young Cult Leader who plunders master and disciple alike!”
Of course, Geom Mugeuk left the Cult Leader’s hall without looking back.
The Pungcheon Sect Leader’s expression, which had been raising veins in anger at being left alone with just his disciple, relaxed gently.
“Thank you for listening to my request.”